Method of lining excavations and horizontal sheeting.



J. B, GOLDSBOROUGH. METHOD OF LINING EXCAVATIONS AND HORIZONTAL SHEETING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9, I913! Patented June 15, 1915.

2 $HEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

By Attorneys,

1; B. GOLDSBOROUGH.

METHOD OF LINING EXCAVATIONS AND HORIZONTAL SHEETING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, I913.

LMEJk v Patented June 15, 1915. ZSHEETS-SHEET 2 IZgt. I fag. X.-

JOHN B. GOLDSBOROUGH, OF CROTON, NEW YORK.

METHOD LINING EXCAVATIONS AND HORIZONTAL SHEETING.

Application filed February 19, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JOHN B. GOLDSBOR- econ, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Croton, in the county of lVestehester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of Lining Excavations and Horizontal Sheeting, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to amethod of lining excavations and tea horizontal sheeting for such excavations, and provides means whereby the excavation may be' lined as it is formed and danger of subsidence of material largely avoided.

My invention consists in the provision of a method and means whereby the earth back of the sheeting may be inspected and any settlement which has taken place may be corrected and further settlement prevented.

In the practical application of my invention, horizontal sheeting is employed in sections spaced vertically to provide openings for the inspection of the earth, and through which openings material may be inserted if required to consolidate the earth behind the sheeting and fill any openings which may have been caused by settlement therein. If it is desired that the lining shall be permanent, the spaces between the sectional sheeting may be filled with suitable material, such as concrete or the like, which will then form a lining of the excavation and will provide a Wall.

Previous to my invention, so far as I am aware, the employment of horizontal sheet piling which was inserted as the Work proceeded, was attended with the disadvantage that if a subsidence of the earth behind the sheeting occurred, it could only be detected by tapping upon the sheeting, which was very apt to bring about the condition which it aimed to detect. The safety of buildings and other structures upon the surface of the ground requires that the earth adjacent to excavations shall be firmly compacted and consolidated and that no spaces shall exist therein for future settlement. Therefore it is necessary to fill such spaces as exist behind the sheeting. This has heretofore been accomplished by the insertion of a rod from the surface of the ground intothe space behind the sheeting, thereby provid ing an opening through which suitable fill-'- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 115, 1915. Serial No. 749,381.

ing material, such as concrete, grout, clay, etc., was inserted. By means of my invention any. settlement which may take place behind the sheeting may be detected and easily provided for by the insertion of suitable material through the openings in the sheeting, whereby all spaces caused by such settlement may be filled and the earth consolidated and compacted, and further settlement prevented.

Frequently in the construction of subways in large cities it becomes necessary to underpin heavy structures along the line of the proposed subway. The excavation for this subway may extend to the line of such underpinnings. For this purpose piers or columns are frequently constructed in pits in the earth, usually of concrete. The. subway excavation is then proceeded with and it becomes necessary to protect the earth between such piers or columns as the subway excavation proceeds, and also to provide a lining or wall for the'excavation. For this purpose my invention is Well adapted, as it provides means whereby sheeting may be inserted between the piers or columns as the excavation proceeds, whereby any settlementbehind such sheeting may be detected,

and whereby the spaces between the sheeting may be subsequently filled up with concrete, which will also fill any spaces behind the sheeting and will provide a wall or lin ing for the finished excavation.

In the accompanying drawings are illustrated desirable modes of employing my invention. liere,l+igure 1 illustrates the lining of two sides of apit according to my invention; Fig. 2' illustrates in plan a pit lined with a modified form of sheeting; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail of one of thesections of horizontal sheet piling illustrating the manner of connecting the same at the corners: Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of sheeting which I may employ wherein corrugated metal is used; Fig. 6 illustrates the sheeting which may be used accordirfg to my invention in the lining of a cylindrical pit; Fig. 7 is a section thereof on the line 8'8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 illustrates horizontal in Fig. 3 designed for use with unstable material; Fig. 11 is a similar view of the sheeting of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 illustrates the employment of sheeting to furnish a permanent lining for excavations having columns in the earth alongside such excavations.

According to my invention sectional sheeting is used which is laid horizontally and is inserted in place as the excavation proceeds in successive vertical sections. Between these sectionsspaces or openings are provided, and through such spaces or openings when the excavation is hned or before, the subsidence or settlement of material behind the sheeting may be detected if it ocours, and likewise material to fill any spaces caused by such settlement and to prevent further settlement and to consolidate and compact the earth may be inserted.

In the preferred form illustrated in Fig. 1 the sheeting is composed of sections A, and between adjacent sections an opening a is formed which is provided by removing a portion of the material at the lower edge at a, providing therein a groove or recess. The material at the upper edge of the adjacent lower section is chamfered or beveled at a to conform to the shape of the lower edge of the upper section. which is also chamfered or beveled, and the object of this is to prevent the easy egress of material. Parts of the sections as for instance at the ends are preferably in contact so that each section may sup ort those above it. The bottom sections 1 are inserted at the bottom of the excavation, which is enlarged sufiiciently for their reception, and then they may be raised by any suitable means, as for instance wedges a whereby the said bottom sections and the entire sheeting is held from settlement. The sheeting havingthus been completed, the spaces a furnish means whereby the earth behind the sheeting may be conveniently examined and any settlement or flowing of material be easily ,detected. Should it be necessary, material may be inserted through the said openings a to fill any spaces caused therein by settlement or other cause, and for the purpose of consohdatmg and compacting the earth behind if desired. For this purpose clay may be employed, or concrete or grout or other suitable material generally used for such purpose, and the material employed to compact the earth may be inserted in any way which will best accomplish this purpose. The particular kind of material required and the manner of its insertion may vary in different cases and are within the skill of the engineer. The driving of concrete wedges is an expedient frequently resorted to by engineers for such purpose, but my invention is not limited to the kind of-material employed for such purpose nor to the particular sway 1t is inserted. The advantage of being enabled to compact and consolidate the earth supporting a building or other structure I deem of great importance, as thereby its supporting-power is greatly increased.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 1 the sections of sheeting are arranged with their sides in the same vertical plane and with the openings formed by channels or recesses in the body of each section. It will be ap-, parent however that the openings or spaces a need not be arranged between each section, but may occur less frequently, and it will also appear that the sections may be otherwise arranged than as indicated in said Fig. 1.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 a modified arrangemnt is presented. Here the sections '13 of sheeting are arranged in place with their lower edges 7) nearer the earth than their upper edges 72 so that the top of each section is inclined away from the earth at an angle of substantially as represented in this figure, 45 degrees to the horizontal. Spaces 1) are provided between vertically adjacent sections by situating the said sections at a suitable distance apart, and through these openings the earth may be observed and filling material inserted as through the openings a, and if desired the spaces 71 may be entirely filled with material, such as concrete, providing a strong and permanent lining for the excavation. A suitable method whereby the corners of the sections B may be connected, is illustrated in these figures, and consists in a locking recess 6 at each end of each section arranged to receive the locking tongue I), and corresponding tongues and recesses I) b. The edges of these recesses b are properly mitered so that when the tongues are inserted in corresponding recesses they will fit closely.

In Fig. 5 the sheeting consists ofcor rugated metal sections C, between the adjacent sections of which a space 0 exists. This space 0 is preferably provided by 10- eating the lower edge 0 of the upper section at a proper distance above the upper edge 0 of the next lower section. The said edges 0 0 provide that the space 0 shall be of suiiicient width so that theearth behind the sheeting will not flow therefrom.

I do not herein specifically claim the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 5 nor the employment of sheet metal as the material of which the sections are formed, as the same are claimed in another and copending application filed by me April 26,

I915, Serial No. 24,122.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate sheeting which may be employed to line a cylindrical excavation. In this case the sheeting is preferably composed of scmi cylindrical sec tions E, each of which (l-ares and is so located that its upper edge e is in a vertica-i rial is to be met line inside ofits lower edge' e producing spaces or openings e between adjacent sections.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the sections of sheetlng are-lettered F and are for lining and excavation of the shape illustrated in Fig. 8. Here a number of sections F are laid to form one horizontal row, and the same are arranged substantially as in Figs. 6 and 7 so that each section is inclined slightly, producing spaces f between the bottom of one section and the top of the lower section.

It will be apparent that the spaces or openings between the sections of sheeting should be so proportioned that the earth *whic'hin adry state has a line of repose of substantially 45 degrees, should not out between these openings. It will be seen in the various ngures that the openings are so proportioned that this will not occur. For instance in Fig. 1 a line drawn at an angle of 45 degrees from the lower inner edge of an upper section A at a point where the opening a exists, will strike some dis tance below the top of the lower section, and also in- Fig. 3 it will be seen that the width of the space 6 is such that material passing the lower edge 6 of the upper section will not rise to the upper edge 5 of the next lower section, and that is true of all the forms in which tion.

In some cases where very unstable matewith, I prefer to arrange the sections somewhat closer together, as in Fig. 10, where a construction similar to that illustrated in F igs. 3 and 11 is employed, but in this figure the adj acentsections are somewhat closer t0gether,.wh reby the top 6 of one section is above the b ;tom 6 of the next upper section, and liabili y of material leaking or passing through the spaces 6 is lessenedil l In Fig. 11, which is designed for use with stabl material such as clay, etc, the sections lay be arranged farther apart as there inl licated, without danger.

i 5 Fig. 12 illustrates a desirable employment of my invention, where it is used to line an excavation, at the sides ofwhich may be located piers or columns H. Such construction as here illustrated will be found of use in situations support a heavy weight, such as the Weight of an overhead building, and it is required to excavate at one side of these piers for permanent excavation, such as for a subway. In this case the earth beneath the building and between the piers must be firmly supported both for the protection of the building and for the protection of the subway. Here the sections, such for instance as sections B, are located in position as the excavation proceeds, as above described. Any settlement of the earth behind the sheeting pass I have illustrated my invenwhere the piers H are located to consists in excavating,

may be detected and provided for as hereinabove described. The spaces 6 between ad- 'jacent sections B may then be filled with In the employment of my invention the sections are laid horizontally so as to protect the side of the excavation, and these sections form a protecting wall between the sections of which openings are provided to inspect the earth and insert filling and consolidating material. I have illustrated in Fig. 1 these successive sections as being laid on edge so that their sides are substantially vertical, and this is my preferred form. My invention, however, may also be employed by disposing the horizontal sections at an in clination to a vertical line as in Figs. 10, 12, etc.

I have illustrated a number of forms which the sections of, horizontal sheeting may take, and these are the best forms now known to me, but I do not assume that they are the only forms in which my invention could be embodied. The spaces between such sections may be provided by locating them a suitable distance apart vertically, or by forming openings in the edges of such sections as herein illustrated. Other modifications which may be made 1n my invention are within the limits of the appended claims, and will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim as my invention l. The method of lining excavations which consists in inserting successive sections of horizontal sheeting in tion proceeds, spaced vertically with relation to one another, whereby openings between adjoining sections throughout a substantial part of the length of the sheeting are provided and whereby the earth may be examined to deplace as the excavaf. the successive sectlons being tect settlement, said openings being inclined downwardly from front to rear whereby the fiow of earth outwardly therefrom is prevented and earth inserted therein from the face is retained, and in inserting material into the earth through such openings.

2. The method of lining excavations which sides of said excavation by inserting sections being spaced vertically with relation to one another whereby openings between adjoining sections are provided throughout a sub stantial part of the length or" the sheeting in lining the exposed of sheeting laid horizontally, in continuing I the excavation and 1n inserting additional through which the earth may be examined to detect settlement, said openings being inclined downwardly from front to rear whereby the flow of earth outwardly therefrom is prevented and earth inserted therein from the face is retained.

3. The method of lining excavations which consists in excavating, in lining the exposed sides of said excavation by inserting horizontal sections of sheeting laid on edge, in continuing the excavation and in inserting additional sections of sheeting below those already inserted, until the desired depth is reached, each successive section supporting those previously laid overhead, the successive sections being spaced vertically with relation to one another whereby openings between adjoiningsections are provided throughout a substantial part of the length of the sheeting, through which the earth may be examined to detect settlement, said openings being inclined downwardly from front to rear whereby the flow of earth outwardly therefrom is prevented and earth inserted therein from the face is retained, and in forcing a wedge or the like beneath the base of said sheet lining thereby forcing the same together and providing space beneath said sheet piling at the bottom of the exca vation for the detection of settlement.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

4. A sheet lining for excavations constructed in sections laid horizontally, vertically disunited from one another, so spaced that openings are provided. between the successive units, said openings being inclined downwardly as they extendfrom front to rear, andextending throughout a substantial part of the length of said sheet lining and adapted to prevent the free passage of the walls of which incline downwardly from.

front to rear thereof, for inspection and reception of materlal.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. GOLDSBOROUGH.

Witnesses:

J ULES BEUCHAUD, RUTH MORRIS.

Washington, D. G. 

